Top 27 American Hot Dogs

One of the street foods that are synonymous with Chicago, the Maxwell Street Polish sandwich is said to have been created in 1943 by a Macedonian immigrant Jimmy Stefanovic who operated a hot dog stand - now called Jim's Original - back then located in Chicago's old Maxwell Street market district. Served on a bun, the grilled or fried Polish sausage is topped with grilled onions, yellow mustard and optional pickled green sport peppers. Soon after its invention, Maxwell Street Polish grew to be one of the Windy City's most popular local fare, and remains a staple of its hot dog stands until this day.Expand

Chicago-style hot dog's history begins with street cart hot dog vendors who first started selling them during the harsh times of the Great Depression. Chicago dog was born as the vendors offered a flavorful, hot meal on a bun and started selling it for only a nickel. Vienna beef hot dog was placed in a steamed poppyseed bun, then topped with numerous ingredients—green relish, yellow mustard, fresh, diced onions, red tomato slices, kosher pickles, a bit of pickled peppers, and a sprinkle of celery salt. The customers absolutely loved the unique combination of hot and cold, crisp and soft, sharp and smooth, and the hot dogs became an authentic icon of the city. The Chicagoans opted for no ketchup, and it is still considered unacceptable, so much that a large number of hot dog vendors don't even offer it as a condiment. A final proof of its popularity is evident in the fact that the Chicago area has more hot dog restaurants and stands than McDonald's', Burger Kings, and Wendy's' combined.Expand

Contrary to popular belief, Coney dog, also called the Coney Island hot dog didn't start on Coney Island, New York. It was invented in Michigan, and three businesses claim to be its original birthplace - American Coney Island in Detroit, Lafayette Coney Island in Detroit and Todoroff's Original Coney Island in Jackson. A popular theory suggests that it was created by the Greeks and Macedonians who had immigrated to Detroit and passed through Coney Island on their way. The popular dish is consumed since 1917, a beef hot dog that is topped with a beanless, all-meat chili, yellow mustard and diced white onions, served in a warm, steamed bun. Coney dog is so popular that it is served at weddings, parties, and even at funerals. Of course, as with all popular dishes, there are numerous regional and local variations found throughout Indiana, Detroit, Flint, Jackson, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas.Expand

Cheese Coneys are a staple of Cincinnati, consisting of a steamed bun that is split and filled with a beef or pork sausage in natural casing, freshly chopped onions, Cincinnati chili, and heaps of grated cheese (usually Cheddar). Mustard is a typical condiment, although some like a few drops of hot sauce on their Coney. These hot dogs are not served at hot dog stands, but usually at Cincinnati chili parlors, well-known for their chili that is spiked with chocolate and cinnamon.Expand

Despite the name, Michigan hot dogs are practically unknown in Michigan. They are traditionally produced in New York State and Québec. This tasty street food staple consists of a long steamed roll and a steamed hot dog sausage in natural casing, and the whole thing is topped with a meaty sauce called Michigan sauce, chopped onions, and occasionally, yellow mustard. The sauce is thick and chunky, typically made with tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, and cabbage, while the onions may be ordered with or buried (under the sauce).Expand

Cheese dogs are one of the numerous hot dog varieties found in the United States. The group includes cheese-infused varieties of the classic wiener hot dogs. The cheese can be incorporated in the sausage, spread on a bun, or additionally placed on top of the hot dog. Although soft buns are the most common casing for the warm wiener and cheese combination, baguette bread, toasts, or plain white bread might also appear in some local types. Among the numerous available varieties of cheese dogs, the most famous is a simple hot dog served with heaps of cheddar cheese which partially melts on the sizzling hot sausage. It is an all-time American favorite, eaten across the country. Cheddar cheese is occasionally replaced with Swiss cheese and other semi-hard cheese varieties. In Seattle, a very common type is a cream cheese dog, characterized by the soft cream cheese which is spread inside the bun. Chicago prides in their Francheezies, a highly caloric invention in which the wiener is stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon. Texas Tommy, invented in Pennsylvania, Reuben, topped with corned beef and sauerkraut, and macaroni and cheese dogs are only a few of the most famous varieties belonging to this vast and versatile group. Like other hot dog types, cheese dogs are also eaten as fast food. They are usually prepared by street vendors or served in laid-back eateries found across the country. They are also often associated with holidays, and are an irreplaceable accompaniment at numerous sporting events.Expand

Chili dog is an American creation consisting of a sausage in a standard bun, topped with chili sauce and other ingredients depending on personal preferences, such as onions or cheese. The dish is often sold at numerous street stands, local eateries, and sports stadiums. No one can really agree about the origins or the inventor of the chili dog: some claim it was invented in Texas, the chili capital, while others believe that the first chili dog was created at Art's Famous Chili Dog Stand in southern Los Angeles. Of course, there are other theories, so some like to say it must have been invented in New York at a baseball game. Chili sauce, the key component of the dish, is also a source of great debate: should it have beans or not, and is it the only allowed topping? Regardless of its origins, chili dog remains a staple of quintessentially American street food.Expand

This hot dog variety is a street food staple in Washington D.C., made with a mildly smoked beef and pork sausage in a natural casing as the key ingredient. This sausage is thicker than the average hot dog sausage, the meat is ground more coarsely, and it has a spicy kick due to red pepper flakes that are dispersed throughout the meat. The sausage is placed on a split roll, then topped with chili, or sometimes with mustard and diced onions. There are numerous theories regarding the name of this hot dog – many people say that it's smoked halfway, some claim that it's cut in half when grilled, while others claim that the name is derived from the fact that the sausage is made with equal amounts of pork and beef. Regardless of the name, half-smoke remains a beloved street food item found at numerous hot dog carts in the city.Expand

Bagel dog is a variety of a hot dog consisting of a regular or small-sized hot dog sausage wrapped in bagel dough. Visually, it is quite similar to pigs in a blanket. This street food staple is especially popular in New York City, Cincinnati, and Chicago. Bagel dogs are commonly topped with poppy seeds before baking in order to enrich the dish with new flavors and textures, but other ingredients such as cheese, onions, and garlic can also be added to these tasty hot dogs. It is believed that the dish was invented in 1980 by Milan R. Burger in North Carolina.Expand

Seattle dog is a variety of a hot dog consisting of a toasted bun and a sausage that is topped with cream cheese, barbecue sauce, cabbage, and a large amount of grilled onions. There are numerous varieties of the hot dog throughout Seattle, and almost anything goes with the toppings, so some cooks add pico de gallo, bacon, pickles, or mustard to the already large hot dog. It is believed that Seattle-style hot dog was created in 1988 by Hadley Longe, a bagel man who originally placed a sausage on a bagel with cream cheese and sold it to the locals on their night out near Pioneer Square.Expand